Page 27 of A Very Mountain Man Wooing

ELEVEN

Whit

One Year Later…

“Areyou ready for your anniversary tomorrow?” Rhodes asks as I finish helping him chop up the rest of the tree.

We had a storm last night, and we’ve been working all morning to help cut up or move all of the downed trees. Hunter is over at Ledger’s place, and we’ll be headed there next. His house seemed to get hit the worst so I know it will take a while to clean up.

“Yeah, we’re going to head down the mountain to this steakhouse and then maybe take a quick stroll around downtown.”

“Sounds nice. Are Hunter and Grier watching Molly?” He asks, and I smile as I think about my daughter.

Anise just gave birth to Molly a few months ago, and I wasn’t sure she would be ready to leave her for a night, but I think knowing that she’s with our friends helps. We’ll only be gone a few hours.

“How are Rory and the kids doing?” I ask as we stack up the last of the firewood and start to carry it over to the pile.

“They’re good,” he says, smiling when he talks about his family.

Rhodes isn’t much of a talker, but he’s become one of my closest friends. He was in the military, too, and we actually had been stationed at the same base overseas for a few months together.

“Are you ready to head over to Ledger’s? I can drive,” Rhodes offers.

“I dropped Anise and Molly over there, so I’ll follow you.”

He nods, and I wipe off my hands as we walk over to our trucks.

I didn’t have any idea what I was getting into when I moved to this small town with Hunter. I thought I would be here for a few years before moving on, but now I can’t imagine living anywhere else.

I have the family that I was always looking for here. It’s expanded from just Anise, Hunter and Grier to Rhodes, Ledger, Wells, Graham, Jonah, and Alder. We have built-in babysitters, people to call if we need help or to help us celebrate things.

It’s a short drive over to Ledger’s place, and I hop out, heading inside in search of my wife and baby.

Anise and I got married right after I rescued her from her family. Almost losing her had scared me. I had been ready to marry her for months, and we were finally on the same page. I proposed to her in our bed, and she beamed when she said yes.

We got married at the courthouse in town, and our friends were all here to help us celebrate. Anise was happy to move out of her apartment, and I helped her get settled in. We spent a weekend painting and shopping for furniture. Now it feels more likeourhome instead of just mine.

I walk into Ledger’s place, and my eyes instantly lock on Anise. Molly is asleep in her arms, and I beeline it for them.

“How are my girls,” I ask them as I drop a kiss on Anise’s lips.

“Good. I just ate like a dozen cookies so expect the sugar rush soon,” she tells me, and I laugh.

“Can’t wait. Want me to take her?”

“Sure.”

I take Molly, and she yawns, her head resting on my forearm as I cradle her in my arms.

“Want me to make you something to eat?” Anise asks.

“I can get it in a minute.”

We stand side by side, staring down at our little girl, and I feel like the luckiest bastard alive.

“Hunter and Grier are excited to watch Molly tomorrow,” Anise says, and I study my wife.

“You don’t want to leave her alone, do you?” I ask, and she shakes her head, looking miserable.

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